Waltham Forest

Waltham Forest's population increased by about 39,900 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed quarter of a million

In the decade to 2011, the population of Waltham Forest increased by 18.3%, from about 218,000 to 258,000.

The addition of almost 40,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Waltham Forest was home to, on average, 48 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Waltham Forest

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Waltham Forest decreased by one year, from 33 to 32 years.

This area had a lower average age than London and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of almost 9,900 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population over the age of 80 years decreased by just under 300.

About 15.0% of people in Waltham Forest are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Waltham Forest by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

Waltham Forest saw England's largest rise in the proportion of self-employed people.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12.4%) people aged 16 to 74 in Waltham Forest said they were self-employed, compared with 7.4% in 2001. The percentage that were employed decreased from 51.6% to 47.8%.

Haringey saw England's next largest rise in the proportion of self-employed people (from 9.0% to 13.9%).

The rate of self-employment in Waltham Forest increased by 5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Waltham Forest, London and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Waltham Forest that rented privately increased from 15.6% to 25.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in five (22.1%) households lived in social housing, compared with 23.6% in 2001. The percentage of Waltham Forest households that owned their home decreased from 58.4% to 49.9%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 15.3% in 2001 to 25.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Waltham Forest increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of households in Waltham Forest, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Waltham Forest

The percentage of Waltham Forest residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 91.4% to 91.8% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 3.0%, while the percentage of Waltham Forest residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 5.6% to 5.0%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (which remained close to 91.6%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 89.8%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Waltham Forest

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Waltham Forest was among those who said they were Muslim, rising 6.8 points.

In 2011, 21.9% of respondents in Waltham Forest gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 15.1% of those who answered in 2001.

Across London, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as Muslim increased from 8.5% to 12.4%, while across England the percentage went from 3.2% to 5.2%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Waltham Forest, 48.4% said they were Christian, compared with 56.8% in 2001. About 18.0% said they had no religion, compared with 15.4% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and said they were Sikh decreased from 0.6% to 0.5%.

In Waltham Forest, 7.3% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 8.9% in 2001. In London, 8.5% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

the population who identified as Muslim in Waltham Forest increased by 6.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, London and Waltham Forest by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Waltham Forest

In 2011, 21.1% of Waltham Forest residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from from 15.4% in 2001.

Across London, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 13.2% to 18.5%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 52.2% of people in Waltham Forest said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 64.5% in 2001. About 17.3% said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, compared with 15.4% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 3.6% to 5.3%.

the population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Waltham Forest increased by 5.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Waltham Forest by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Waltham Forest residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.0% to 5.2% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82.7%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 68.6% in 2001. The percentage of Waltham Forest residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22.4% to 12.1%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Waltham Forest decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Waltham Forest, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with children

The percentage of households in Waltham Forest with children increased from 31.3% to 34.8% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (55.3%) households had no children, compared with 59.4% in 2001. The percentage of households in Waltham Forest with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.3% to 10.0%.

The proportion of households with children increased faster here than the figure for the whole of London (from 28.9% in 2001 to 30.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 29.5% to 29.2%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across London

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Waltham Forest working less than 16 hours increased from 2.0% to 3.7% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 13 (7.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 10.1% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 2.0% in 2001 to 3.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Waltham Forest increased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Waltham Forest, London and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Relationships in Waltham Forest

The percentage of married people changed very little in Waltham Forest, while the proportion fell across England.

In Waltham Forest, the proportion of married people decreased from 41.1% in 2001 to 40.4% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England decreased from 50.6% to 46.6%.

Across London, the share of married people decreased from 41.7% to 40.3%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Waltham Forest increased from 41.5% to 43.4%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner remained close to 11.3%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Waltham Forest, which comprised a single parent, increased from 13.4% to 13.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (27.7%) households had a married couple, compared with 28.5% in 2001. The percentage of households in Waltham Forest, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.4% to 8.5%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of London (from 11.1% in 2001 to 12.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was higher than across London

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Waltham Forest residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care remained close to 1.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.1%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 1.7% in 2001 to 1.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Waltham Forest remained close to 1.9%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Waltham Forest by care, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links